Octabuoy platform coming together in yards in China, US, says operator ATP
Aug. 8, 2011
Work continues in China on the Octabuoy floating production platform for ATP Oil & Gas’ Cheviot development in the UK North Sea.
Offshore staff
HOUSTON – Work continues in China on the Octabuoy floating production platform for ATP Oil & Gas’ Cheviot development in the UK North Sea.
The company says that hull construction is on schedule at the shipyard and completion is expected early in 2012.
Platform topsides are under construction in China (the utility module) and the US (the processing module). Once the latter is completed, it will be shipped to China to be joined with the utility module. The hull and topsides will then sail to Norway for final commissioning and on to the Cheviot field, where production is slated to start in 2014.
Cheviot is working on two other operated UK sector development projects. At the Skipper oil field in the central North Sea, an appraisal well should be drilled in 2012 to test production rates. Water depth here is 300 ft (91.4 m).
As for the Blythe field, mainly a gas project, discussions are continuing to determine an economic offtake route for the gas. Development at Blythe is expected to commence in 2013. This field is in the southern gas basin in water depths of around 100 ft (30.5 m). ATP has 50% interests in both fields.
